Nowadays, movies identify themselves not only as the mainstream of the current mass culture, but also as an essential part of cultural industry. For the past few years, Korean movies have enjoyed a rapid increase in the number of audiences and in the ...
Nowadays, movies identify themselves not only as the mainstream of the current mass culture, but also as an essential part of cultural industry. For the past few years, Korean movies have enjoyed a rapid increase in the number of audiences and in the size of movie industry. However, many have questioned the sudden development of Korean movie industry for the unbalanced growth focused on few commercial movies, concerned with the fact that the development might be limited to quantitative aspect. Actually, the concentration on the specific movies is intensifying as years pass by. For example, so-called "popular" movies are constantly screened at numerous multiplex theaters, taking over limited spots. Such phenomena banish many movies without financing and distribution systems from the market and may worsen the condition of Korean movie production, especially those of the so-called "unpopular" movies. If this goes on for a long time, foundation of Korean movie industry would become unstable, fundamentally hindering a long-term development. For the constant development of Korean movie industry, not only a quantitative growth but also a qualitative balance and diversity should be secured.
Diversity of movies could promote a continuous development of the industry, and nevertheless is important because movies are parts of "culture"' or "cultural inheritance." It is important that diversemovies should be produced for cultural diversity. However, development of image culture is possible when production, distribution, screening are systemically connected. Secured places for screening are especially important since they provide the space where the movies can meet the actual audiences, since movies can gain meaning only when they get screened at theaters and meet the audiences.
To minimize damages caused by the intensifying concentration on the specific movies, an alternative solution should be provided for survival of low-budget movies, independent movies or arthouse movies. This research plans to examine the current situation, considering Seoul Art Cinema as the alternative solution for ensuring diversity of movies, and look for answers to existing management problems.